April 03, 2014

Season highlight # 1

GM Murray Hiebert needed to put his stamp on the Kitchener Rangers and the club needed reshaping after being gutted by Steve Spott.

And Hiebert didn't disappoint, making nine trades this past season.

There were some winners and losers in the mix. But, as a package, there is no doubt that the Rangers have added youth, potential upside and desperately needed picks all necessary to craft a winning roster in the years to come.

For that, it is the top highlight in an otherwise forgettable season.

A recap:

To Kitchener: 3rd round pick (2014), 6th (2015)

To Oshawa: F Josh Sterk

Skinny: Sterk had a career year and averaged a point per game through the first 41 tilts. Yes, he only had 22 points as a sophomore but he was getting third line minutes and little to no time on the power play. Signs pointed to an increase with more ice-time. Oshawa still in playoffs.

Win, loss, push: Loss

To Kitchener: 4th (2015), 9th (2014)

To Niagara: F Eric Ming

Skinny: Kitchener had four overage players and needed to shed one at the time. Ming had never eclipsed 30 points so two picks is a nice return. But Ming had a career high 33 goals and led the IceDogs in playoff scoring. His leadership and versatility was sorely missed in Kitchener.

Win, loss, push: Push

To Kitchener: G Jordan DeKort

To Windsor: 6th (2015)Skinny: Anytime you can flip a mid pick for an 18-year-old goalie with upside you do it. DeKort is still a work in progress but has shown flashes of brilliance and may yet round into a permanent starter.Win, loss, push: Win

To Kitchener: 15th (2014)To Sudbury: G Jack MoylanSkinny: Despite owning the best numbers of the four Rangers’ goalies this season, Moylan didn’t fit into the long term plan in Kitchener. Sinking more than two years of time and money into his development for a small return hurts. But getting something was a bonus.

Win, loss, push: Win

To Kitchener: F Paxton LerouxTo London: 5th (2015)

Skinny: The tough guy played just a period and change before exiting to have season ending shoulder surgery. Giving up a fifth round pick is a steep price for an OA regardless of the number of games played.

Win, loss, push: Loss

To Kitchener: D Dylan Di Perna, 2nd (2015)To Kingston: D Evan McEneny

Skinny: McEneny can return for one more year while Di Perna could be back for three. Toss in the second round pick and this one was good for the Rangers.

Win, loss, push: Win

To Kitchener: F Brandon Robinson

To North Bay: F Ben Thomson, 4th (2017)Skinny: This is a case of a trade that worked out well for both teams. Thomson joined a team trying to surprise and make a run in the east in his last year in the OHL. Kitchener gets two more years out of Robinson.

Win, loss, push: Win

To Kitchener: F Dominik Kabulik, 2nd (2014), 2nd (2016)

To Sudbury: F Radek Faksa

Skinny: The Rangers pick up an import with potential and one who can stick around for another season as well as two big draft picks. That’s a great return for Faksa, who bowed out in the first round of the playoffs with the Wolves. He was gone next year anyway, so the time to trade was now.

Win, loss, push: Win

To Kitchener: G Hayden Lavigne

To Belleville: 15th (2014), 5th (conditional, 2016)

Skinny: A deep pick on the off chance that Lavigne - who is comitted to NCAA - may come to the Aud. A small price to pay for a position that is hard to fill.

Comments

GM Murray Hiebert needed to put his stamp on the Kitchener Rangers and the club needed reshaping after being gutted by Steve Spott.

And Hiebert didn't disappoint, making nine trades this past season.

There were some winners and losers in the mix. But, as a package, there is no doubt that the Rangers have added youth, potential upside and desperately needed picks all necessary to craft a winning roster in the years to come.

For that, it is the top highlight in an otherwise forgettable season.

A recap:

To Kitchener: 3rd round pick (2014), 6th (2015)

To Oshawa: F Josh Sterk

Skinny: Sterk had a career year and averaged a point per game through the first 41 tilts. Yes, he only had 22 points as a sophomore but he was getting third line minutes and little to no time on the power play. Signs pointed to an increase with more ice-time. Oshawa still in playoffs.

Win, loss, push: Loss

To Kitchener: 4th (2015), 9th (2014)

To Niagara: F Eric Ming

Skinny: Kitchener had four overage players and needed to shed one at the time. Ming had never eclipsed 30 points so two picks is a nice return. But Ming had a career high 33 goals and led the IceDogs in playoff scoring. His leadership and versatility was sorely missed in Kitchener.

Win, loss, push: Push

To Kitchener: G Jordan DeKort

To Windsor: 6th (2015)Skinny: Anytime you can flip a mid pick for an 18-year-old goalie with upside you do it. DeKort is still a work in progress but has shown flashes of brilliance and may yet round into a permanent starter.Win, loss, push: Win

To Kitchener: 15th (2014)To Sudbury: G Jack MoylanSkinny: Despite owning the best numbers of the four Rangers’ goalies this season, Moylan didn’t fit into the long term plan in Kitchener. Sinking more than two years of time and money into his development for a small return hurts. But getting something was a bonus.

Win, loss, push: Win

To Kitchener: F Paxton LerouxTo London: 5th (2015)

Skinny: The tough guy played just a period and change before exiting to have season ending shoulder surgery. Giving up a fifth round pick is a steep price for an OA regardless of the number of games played.

Win, loss, push: Loss

To Kitchener: D Dylan Di Perna, 2nd (2015)To Kingston: D Evan McEneny

Skinny: McEneny can return for one more year while Di Perna could be back for three. Toss in the second round pick and this one was good for the Rangers.

Win, loss, push: Win

To Kitchener: F Brandon Robinson

To North Bay: F Ben Thomson, 4th (2017)Skinny: This is a case of a trade that worked out well for both teams. Thomson joined a team trying to surprise and make a run in the east in his last year in the OHL. Kitchener gets two more years out of Robinson.

Win, loss, push: Win

To Kitchener: F Dominik Kabulik, 2nd (2014), 2nd (2016)

To Sudbury: F Radek Faksa

Skinny: The Rangers pick up an import with potential and one who can stick around for another season as well as two big draft picks. That’s a great return for Faksa, who bowed out in the first round of the playoffs with the Wolves. He was gone next year anyway, so the time to trade was now.

Win, loss, push: Win

To Kitchener: G Hayden Lavigne

To Belleville: 15th (2014), 5th (conditional, 2016)

Skinny: A deep pick on the off chance that Lavigne - who is comitted to NCAA - may come to the Aud. A small price to pay for a position that is hard to fill.